'Parliament attack martyrs' kin to get medals back on March 30'

All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chairperson Maninderjit Singh Bitta has said the families of the Parliament attack martyrs, who had returned gallantry medals to register protest over the delay in the hanging of Afzal Guru, will get back the medals from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on March 30.

All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chairperson Maninderjit Singh Bitta has said the families of the Parliament attack martyrs, who had returned gallantry medals to register protest over the delay in the hanging of Afzal Guru, will get back the medals from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on March 30.

In a statement, Bitta said, "I will accompany the families of the Parliament attack martyrs and will also meet union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde. We will thank the home minister for playing an important role in the implementation of the death penalty to Afzal Guru."

The martyrs' families had returned medals to the then president APJ Abdul Kalam on December 13, 2006, in protest against delay in implementation of the death sentence of Afzal Guru.

Now, when Afzal Guru has been hanged, the families of those who lost their lives in the attack feel that justice has been done, Bitta said, adding that the kin have requested that medals be returned to them, added Bitta.

Bitta also slammed Pakistan for moving a bill in its parliament to mourn the hanging of Afzal Guru. "India must take this issue seriously and put on hold all cultural, political, social and economic ties with Pakistan," he added.

The AIATF chairperson also demanded that the Indian government must pursue the matter of beheading of two Indian soldiers on the Line of Control sometime back.